Flexible thermostatic element



FLEXIBLE THERMOSTATIC ELEMENT Filed Sept. '27; 1924 WITNESSES: IINVENTOR ,fl/dzw. .M/faflhf M27185.

. AT'TORNEY Patented May 15, 1928.

UNiitED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

'WALTEB .H. RIMES, OF JPITTSBU'RGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TOWESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC dcMANUFACT'UBING COMPANY/ACORPORATION.OFITPENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE THERMOSTATIG ELEMENT.

Application filed September 27, 1924. Serial K017 10488.

lifiy invention relates to thermostats and it has special relat on tothermostats for the heated mei'nbcrs ot' ironing machines.

An object of my invention is to provide a thermostatic couple in which anonexpansihlc substance constituting: an elemcntof the couple iseconomically used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a thermostat adapted towithstand hlowsand shocks without being rendered inaccurate orinoperative.

A further object of my invention is to provide a safety device forcutting; off heat in the event of breakage of a thermostat.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a rear elcvational view of an ironing machine with athermostat embodying my invention applied thereto.

Fig. .2 is an enlarged view, partially in section and partially inelevation, of thermostatic parts shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of valve parts.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, a thermostatic couple isshown as comprising an ironing; shoe 1 and a wire 2 mounted thereabovein a manner presently to he described.

A flexible tube 3.is secured to a control cock 4 which communicates witha cap 5 on a casing, 6. The casing 6 is mounted on the shoe land isconnected, by a pipe 7, to a burner 8 in the shoe 1.

The cap 5 encloses a main valve 9 disposed near a seat 10 on the casing6 and an auXil iary valve 11 carried bythe main valve 9- and has a seat12 for the auxiliary valve 11.

One end of a spring 13 engages themain valve 9 and. its other endengages a guide 14 for a stem 15. The stem 15 is secured to an eye ofaspring 16 which has a second eye secured to an end of the wire 2.

The wire 2 is coi'nposcd of an inexpansible substance, such as invar (anickel steel of approximately per cent nickel) and is secured. at itsother end, to a rod 17 which is slidably but not rotatably mounted in anopening 18 in a bracket 19 on the other end of the shoe. A nut 20,screwed on the rod 17, engages the bracket 19 and has a pointer 21thereon to cooperate with a scale 22 on the bracket. A. guard 23,housing the wire 2, is slidahly secured, at one end, on the in itslength because the spring 13 is conbrackctw19 and, vat/the other end, onthe casing 6. c

In the operation ofthe device, the expansion and contraction of the shoe1 causes relative movement between the main valve 9 anditsseatlQ, thetension of the'wire 2 overcoming the compression of r the spring 13.

The valve 9'thus restricts the how of 'fuel to the burner 8 on the riseoften'iperature of the-shoe "Land increases the flow of fuel on thelowering thereof. :The temperature of the shoe 1- is thusthermostatically controlled.

When the valve 9 is not in engagement with-the seat 10,'thespring 16 isconstant siderablyweaker than the spring lfi. At this time, also, thedistance :from the valve 9 to the nut 20 remains constant, as'the wire2, as stated. is inexpansible. After the valve 9 engages the seat 10.further movement of the bracket 19 and casing-6 in directions away fromeach other may occur because of theexpansion ofthe shoe 1. Theexpansion-o'f spring-16 permits-such movement. At all t-imes thewiro 2is maintained under tensi0n. If the I wire shouldbecome broken,thewauxiliary valve 11 would be-urged, by the spring .13, i-ntoeneagement with the seat 12. and the flow of fuel would he out 01?.

If. the wire, for any reason, should become flexed,"thespring 13would'straighten it and thus maintain accuracy of temperaturereg-'ulation.

The guard 23 prevents accidentalstriking of the wire 2 and keeps it frombeing broken. ThenutQOprovides a-convenient means for moving; the valve9 closerto or farther from the seat 10 and thus'xadjusts thetemperatureat which-the shoe 1 will be maintained and indicates thetemperature on the scale-22. The adjustment ofthe nut 20 does not causetherod ;17 to rotate and, therefore, doesnottwist the-wire 2.- There is,therefore n0 impairmentof the sensitiveness of the thermostat "byadjustment.

lThe-wire 2 need not be made of invarhut may be composed of anyrelatively inexpansible material. As suitable inexpansible materials areexpensive, the making of the element of the thermostatic couple of avery thin piece of material effects a marked econ- .omy. If theinexpansive member of a therpossible to make an operative thermostatwithout providing a large and strong lI16X,-.

be heated andthat either of them maybe movable toward and away from theother.

It will be understood also that electrical energy may be utilized forheating one or both of the ironing members by substituting any suitableand well known resistor element for the fuel burner and by utilizing asuitable rheostat, in lieu of the control valve, in connection with thegoverning and adjusting devices shown and described.

The principles of the invention are of general application. It is usefulin all types of thermostats having an \inexpansible mem- .ber, that sucha member should be inexpensive. The invention, therefore, has Wideapplication and is not limited to the details of construction of themodification illustrated.

A substantial range of equivalents is contemplated Within the spiritofthe invention and the scope of; the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A thermostat for ironing machines comprising in combination, anironing shoe subject to changes in size upon variations in temperature,a valve' carriedbythe ironing shoe for controlling the temperature andmeansfor actuating the valve comprising a member substantiallynon-expansible at ironing temperatures, means for attaching thenon-expansible ironing member to the ironingshoe at a distance from thevalve and resilientineans connecting the non-expansible member to thevalve thereby to actuate the valve upon changes in size of the ironingshoe to maintain the temperature substantially constant. p p

2. A thermostat for ironing machines comprising in combination, anironing shoe subject to changes in size upon Variations in temperature,a valve carriedby the ironing shoe for controlling the temperature andmeans for actuating the valve comprising a member substantiallynon-expansible at ironing temperatures, means for attaching thenon-expansible ironing member to the ironing shoe at a distance from thevalve and a resilient means connecting the non-expansible' member to thevalve thereby to actuate the valve upon changes in size of the ironingshoe to maintain the temperature substantially constant and means forsetting the limits of temperature.

3. In a thermostaticdevice, the co nbination of anelongated r1 id memberand an valve to maintain the shoewithin different elongated flexiblemeniier secured thereto and ineanscooperating with'said members andoperative by reason of their relative expansions and-thetension of saidflexible member to thermostatically control the temperature of thefirstmentioned member.

4:. The combination ofan ironing member,

means for heating said ironing member, a flexible member, and meanscooperating with said flexible member and operative by reason of tensiontherein heating means. 5. The comb nation of an ironing member,

for controlling said a flexible member secured to one end thereof,

valve against said valve ineinberto maintain a connection between saidvalve and said flexible member.

6.. The COIDblIliltlOIl of a heated ironing member, awire securedthereto, means co-" operating ith said wireto thermostatically controlthe temperature ofsaid a guard forsaid wire.

7. The combination of twomechanically related elementsconstituting athermostatic couple, one of said elements being flexible, and meanscooperating with said elements for controlling the temperature of one ofsaid elements, said elements being adjustable to vary the temperatureatwhich the last mentioned elements Will be maintained.

8. The combination of an ironing member,

member and a flexible member adapted to be maintained under tension.means cooperating with said members for thermostatically controllingtheemperature of said ironing member and adjustable means at one end ofsaid flexible member tor'determiningthe position of the other end, thefirst mentioned means being adjustable on the adjustment ofsaidadjustable means, whereby the temperature of thermostatic adjustment isvaried,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th dayof September, 1924. p

a W. H. HIME

